128 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



pulled them from their seats, and whisked them off as if 

 to say: "Now you can go — you are married !" Outside 

 the full moon bathed the country in the efTulgcnce of its 

 light, but being quite in zenith it looked rather small 

 as it hung in the tropical sky. 



The moist heat in the latter part of September and 

 first half of October was more oppressive here than I 

 experienced anywhere else in Borneo. When for a few 

 days there was no rain the temperature was uncom- 

 fortable, though hardly rising above 90° F. As there was 

 no wind Rajimin's skins would not dry and many spoiled. 

 Flies, gnats, and other pests were troublesome and 

 made it difficult even to take a bath. Itching was pro- 

 duced on the lower part of the legs, which if scratched 

 would become sores that usually took weeks to heal, and 

 though the application of iodine was of some avail, the 

 wounds would often suppurate, and I have myself at times 

 had fever as a result. The best remedy for these and 

 like injuries on the legs is a compress, or wet bandage, 

 covered with oiled silk, which is a real blessing in the 

 tropics and the material for which any traveller is well 

 advised in adding to his outfit. 



Rain with the resultant cooling of the atmosphere 

 seldom waited long, however, and when the river rose to 

 within a metre of my tent, which I had pitched on the 

 edge of the river bank, I had to abandon it temporarily 

 for the house in which Mr. Demmini and Mr. Loing re- 

 sided, a little back of the rest of the houses. Besides a 

 kitchen, it contained a large room and a small one, which 

 I appropriated. This house, which was five generations 



